Last October, the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC) brought its vision for university-led innovation to Singapore, showing how academic research can move from the lab to ventures that address global challenges. The inaugural program, “Lab to Market: Exploring Kansai’s Top Research with KSAC,” highlighted advances in energy and healthcare and opened the door to closer collaboration between Kansai’s universities and Singapore’s startup ecosystem.
This year, the partnership is set to deepen. On October 29, KSAC will return to Singapore with its second edition, “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase.” Held at Marina Bay Sands as part of TechInnovation 2025, the event will feature researchers from the Kansai region working in cutting-edge fields including regenerative medicine, diagnostics, biomaterials, and advanced engineering.
Meet Kansai’s top innovators
At the event, five researchers will present projects with direct applications to urgent global challenges:
- Fumiyuki Hattori of Kansai Medical University is developing therapies that use nail stem cells to restore fingertips lost to burns, accidents, or amputations. With numerous cases reported each year in the US and Japan, and limited treatment options available, his approach could set a new standard in regenerative therapy and create opportunities in emerging medical markets.
- Yoichi Kumada of Kyoto Institute of Technology is advancing recombinant antibody technologies to address the limitations of conventional, animal-derived antibodies. His engineered fragments are designed for scalability, cost efficiency, and ethical production, with immediate applications in rapid testing for healthcare, veterinary, and environmental use.
- Shu Ishikawa of Kobe University is working on a polymer derived from Bacillus subtilis that can be applied in biodegradable plastics, superabsorbent materials, and medical products. His platform technology prioritizes efficiency and sustainability, offering industries a viable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
- Daiki Watanabe of the University of Osaka has designed an impeller-free mixing device that avoids contamination and shear damage, making it especially suited for sensitive processes such as stem cell culture and cultivated meat production. Combined with advanced simulations, his approach could accelerate the development of next-generation biomanufacturing systems.
- Kentaro Yaji of the University of Osaka leads research in thermal-fluid topology optimization, targeting one of industry’s most persistent challenges: heat management. His platform reduces the design cycle for cooling systems from weeks to days, with potential applications in electric vehicle batteries, aerospace, data centers, and quantum devices.
The session will also feature a keynote speech by Gwendolin Mah, head of international programs at MedTech Actuator, who has global experience connecting health tech innovators with clinicians and investors.
Mah’s address will focus on the global potential of startups emerging from Kansai’s universities, where a robust IP base, strong institutional backbone, and an active industry ecosystem provide fertile ground for growth. She will also discuss how Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, can serve as a gateway for collaboration, clinical validation, and market entry.
Why attend?
Beyond the individual breakthroughs, the showcase highlights intersecting themes that signal where deep tech is heading.
In healthcare, the lineup spans Hattori’s regenerative therapies, Kumada’s diagnostic tools, and Watanabe’s bioprocessing technologies. Together, they suggest new ways to treat patients and develop therapies.
In sustainability, Ishikawa’s biopolymers and Yaji’s energy-efficient design platforms point to pathways for industries to reduce reliance on fossil-based inputs and lower emissions.
A common thread across these projects is their platform potential. Rather than stopping at a single product, each offers a technological foundation adaptable to multiple applications and markets. For investors and industry partners, the opportunity is not just to support a promising development but to engage with innovations that could seed entirely new markets.
The timing is also strategic. Japan has set a five-year target of cultivating 100,000 startups and 100 unicorns by 2027, with deep tech at the core of that plan. KSAC, which brings together more than 90 universities, research institutions, and local governments in the Kansai region, is working to turn academic research into commercially viable ventures. By anchoring the showcase within the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH), one of Asia’s leading innovation festivals, KSAC signals its intent to connect Japan’s emerging startups with global markets through Singapore.
Event details
“Lab to Global Stage” will include presentations from the researchers, followed by networking sessions where attendees can discuss potential collaborations and partnerships. Investors, industry experts, and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to explore how these innovations might scale globally.
- Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
- Time: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Singapore time).
- Venue: Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Level 3, Heliconia Ballroom and Hibiscus Ballroom, Level 3, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956
- Registration: Free. Prior signup for TechInnovation 2025 is required, as the session will be held within the broader event grounds.
Early registration is recommended as spaces are limited to 50–60 participants. Register or find out more about “Lab to Global Stage” by visiting this page.
Join the event and be part of the discussion on how university-driven innovation can shape the future at this event.
About the event: “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase” is organized with support from the Osaka Business Development Agency (OBDA).
This article was published in partnership with KSAC. KrASIA is an event partner for “From Lab to Global Stage: Kansai Deep Tech Showcase,” set to be held on October 29, 2025.